Flush tank valve construction



Wig-n9 Feb. 20, 1962 D. BROWN 3,021,529

FLUSH TANK VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR DEWEY BROWN ms ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1962 D. BROWN 3,021,529

FLUSH TANK VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6

9'; W INVENTOR DEWEY BROWN HIS ATTORNEY. W

United States Patent G 3,021,529 FLUSH TANK VALVE CUNSTRUETION DeweyBrown, Xenia, Ghio Filed July 24, 1959, Ser. No. 829,249 4 Elaims. (Cl.4-57) This invention relates to a flush tank valve construction.

An object of this invention is to provide a substantially horizontal armconstruction in combination with a substantially vertical armconstruction adjustably secured together so these constructions may besecured in a simple and efiicient manner to the usual combined flush andoverflow fixture which is sealed to the flush opening in the bottom wallof a toilet water tank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vertical armconstruction which has a very simple, eflicient and effective connectionwith the link which carries the tank ball, and which is rotationallyadjustably connected with a horizontal arm which is secured to the usualcombined flush and overflow fixture of a toilet tank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vertical armconstruction which is connectable with horizontal arm constructionswhich are secured either to the overflow pipe or to the large diameterflush pipe of the usual combined flush and overflow fixture.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic vertical cross-section of a toilet tank and afixture in said tank embodying features of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal top view of a portion of FIGURE 1, and showingthe adjustability of theinven: tion to variously shaped combined flushand overflow fixtures.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken along the line 33of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 44 of FIGURE3.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-section along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3. 1

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, and showing the inventionapplied to the large diameter flush pipe of the combined flush andoverflow fixture.

FIGURE 7 is a top view of a portion of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken along the line 8-8of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a top view of a horizontal arm shown in FIGURES 6-9 andwhich is attachable to the large diameter flush pipe.

FIGURE 10 is a vertical cross-section of a transverse hinge memberrotatably secured to a hinge opening in the vertical arm and to the linkwhich is attached to the tank ball.

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal cross-section along the line 111l of FIGURE10.

FIGURE 12 is a vertical elevation of a portion of FIG- URE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a horizontal cross-section similar to a portion of FIGURE11, and showing another embodiment.

FIGURE 14 is a vertical elevation of FIGURE 13, taken from the line14-14 of FIGURE 13.

Referring first to FIGURES 1-5, a flush tank 20 is provided with acombined flush and overflow fixture 22 of any well known construction,and including a relatively large diameter flush pipe 24 and a relativelylong overflow pipe 26 adjacent to and discharging at its lower end 28into said flush pipe 24 in a well known manner. The overflow pipe 26 hasa vertical extension 36 with an inlet, not shown, above the normal waterlevel in said tank 20,

as is well known. The combined fixture 22 is sealed to the flush opening32 in the bottom wall 34 of the tank 20 in any well known manner, andmay include the rubberlike ring 36, flange 38 on the fixture 22, and thetightening nut 40. i i

A substantially horizontal arm 42 has a means or clamp 44 adjustably tosecure the horizontal arm 42 at one endto the extension 30 of theoverflow pipe 26. The clamp 44 may be provided with a bolt and nutconstruction 46 for vertical and rotational adjustment and securement tothe extension 30. The horizontal arm 42 extends in a horizontaldirection for a substantial distance from the overflow pipe 26 to itsother end 48, which end 48 may be disk-like and have a rectangular,circular or other disk-like shape for a link stopping purpose to bedescribed.

A substantially vertical arm 5% is adjustably secured adjacent the end43 of the arm 42. The arm Sltmay have a substantially rectangularlycross-sectioned hinge receiving end 52 and a cylindrical, threaded,attaching end 54 for attaching the arms 42 and 50 to each other in arotationally adjustable manner. The end 52 has an abutting surface 55 toengage the lower face of the arm 42 when the nut 56 is drawn tightly onthe threaded attaching end 54 against the upper face of the arm 42. Theopening 58 may be unthreaded, to receive the threaded end 54 loosely andpermit the arm 50 to be tightened and secured at any desired angle withrespect to the arm 42. This permits adjustment to compensate for variousdistances between the flush pipe 24 and extension 3% of the overflowpipe 26, in a manner tobecome more fully apparent.

The hinge receiving end 52 of the arm 50 may have atransverse hingereceiving opening 661 which receives the hinge member 62 which issecured to and extends transversely to the relatively rigid link or wire64, which is downwardly bent at 66 and is threadedly secured to the tankball 68 for guided movement of the ball into and'out of the flushopening 76 in the pipe 24.

The hinge member 62 may be formed by transversely bending the end of thelink or wire 64. Extensions or ears 72 maybe formed by pinching themember 62 at 74. These ears 72 engage the washer 76 which in turnengages one side of the end 52 of arm 50. A groove 73 in member 62receives a hairpin-like member 80 which engages the washer 82 which isat the other side of the end 52 of arm 50 in a manner to lock the hingemember 62 against longitudinal movement. In this manner the link 64 ishingedly secured to the arm 50 for upward and downward swinging movementof the tank ball 68 into I the flush opening 70 of the pipe 24.

Upward movement of the link 64 may be stopped and limited by engagementof link 64 with the under surface of the disk-like end 48 of the arm 42.Additionally, or alternatively, such upward movement of the link 64 maybe arrested by a link stopping member or bolt 84 which is secured in anopening 9 6, which may be identical in diameter and shape with theopening 60 heretofore described. The openings es and 86 may be usedinterchangeably and alternatively as hinge and or link stopping memberopenings, as will later become apparent. The stopping member 84 may berod or bolt which may be secured in the opening 86 (and/or 6%). Forthispurpose the member 84 may have a head 83 and a nut 99 threadedlyengaging the end of belt 841-. The bolt 84 need not threadedly engagethe opening 66, but may be firmly held therein by the tightening of thehead 88 and nut 90 toward each other. In this manner the openings 66 and36 may be interchangeable, if desired.

The dotted showing of arm 42a, extension 39a, end 54a, etc., in FIGURE 1indicates how the invention may be applied to combined flush andoverflow fixtures with diiferent distances between the overflow pipe andthe flush pipe. The arm 42a is rotationaLly adjusted about the overflowpipe extension 30a as a center to move the end 54a of the'vertical arm59 along the arc 57 so it is at the correct distance from the centralaxis of the flush pipe 24 so the link 64a correctly positions thedownward bend 66 directly over the center or axis of the flush pipe 24.This is accomplished because the vertical arm 50 and the link 64a arerotationally adjustable in the end 48 of the horizontal arm 42, and thearm 42 is rotationally adjustable about the overfiow extension 3%.

The arm 42 is also vertically adjusted on overflow extension 30, so thelink 64 is substantially horizontal 'to disturb the seal construction atthe bottom of the tank 20 after it has been in operation for arelatively long time.

All of the members which may be identical to those previously describedin connection with FIGURE 1-5 designated by identical reference numeralsin FIGURES 6-9, and their construction and mode of operation may besubstantially, the same, except as obviously modified, and hence theirdescription is not repeated in connection with FIGURES 6-9.

In FIGURES 6-9, a horizontal arm 42b is provided with an opening 92, astrengthening flange S4, and a ver tical arm securing opening 96. Theopening 92 fits around the upper end of the flush pipe 24. The arm 42bis pressed down by the flange 38 against the seal, ring 36; when the nut49 is tightened. A vertical post supporting member 98 has its lower endltltl secured to the arm iitlrby the screw 102 which threadedly engages.

justment by the nut 196. The opening 86 now receives.

the transverse hinge member 62, and the opening 60 now receives the linkstopping member 84; The vertical adjustment of the opening 86, which isnow. the hinge opening, is made by the. amount of threaded engagement ofthe end 54; in the opening 164.. This vertical adjustment is made so thelink 64, is substantially. horizontal whenthe tank ball 68, is in fullyclosed position. The stopping member 84' stops the link 64' and ball 68in. the dotted line position of FIGURE. 6.

It is thus to be seen, that the vertical arm 56 is adaptable, ifdesired, for use as shown in FIGURES 1-5 or as shown in FIGURES 6-9;

In the embodiment of FIGURES l and 11, the link 64d threadedly engagesthe separate transverse hinge member 62d at the threaded opening 108 sothat the downward extension or ball receiving bend God may be adjustedtoward or away from the axis of rotation 11% of the transverse hingemember 62d more easily to align the ball 68 into the flush opening 70.The hinge member 62:! may have a rectangularly cross-sectioned body 112connected integrally, with the cylindrical body 114 which rotationallyhinges in the opening 60 of the end 52 of vertical arm 50 in FIGURESI-Sor the opening 86 in FIGURES 6-9. An integral threaded extension 116receives the nut 118 for hingedly retaining the hinge member 62a in thehinge opening 60 or 86, as the case may be.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 13 and 14, the parts may be the same as inFIGURES 1D and 11 wherever the same reference numerals are used. Insteadof the thread extension 116 and, the nut 118, of FIGURES 4; l0 and 11, agroove 120 and a hairpin-like member 122, similar to 80, are provided inFIGURES l3 and 14 to maintain the cylindrical hinge body 114 within thehinge opening 60 or 86, as the case may be.

In the embodiments of FIGURES 10-14, the link member 64d may beidentical with the link members 64 in FEGURES 1-9 in so far as thedownward ball engaging 66 is concerned. If desired, however, in all ofthe embodiments herein disclosed, the downward bend 66 may include anextension in the form of a loop 124 to which the usual flush operatingconnection, chain or the like which is actuated by a hand operated-levermay be secured. In the other embodiments the flush operating connection,chain and the like may be secured to the link 64 to any suitableconnection or loop provided on link s4, not shown.

In FIGURES 10-14 a nut 126 is indicated to secure the link 64d inadjusted position. However, if desired, such nut 126 may be omitted,since the ball 68, by its weight, tends to keep the link 6441 fromturning from its adjusted position.

While the form now preferred has been disclosed as required by thestatutes, other forms may be used, all coming Within the scope or" theclaims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. In combination: a toilet water tank having a bot tom wall with aflush opening therein; a combined flush and overflow fixture having arelatively large diameter flush pipe sealed in said flush opening with atank ball receiving opening at the upper end of said flush pipe, saidture having a relatively long overflow pipe adjacent to and dischargingat its lower end into said flush pipe, and having a vertical extensionwith an inlet above the normal water level in said tank; a substantiallyhorizontal arm having means at one end securing said arm to saidcombined flush and overflow fixture, said arm extending a generallyhorizontal direction a substantial distance from said combined flush andoverflow fixture; a substantially vertical arm secured adjacent theother end of said horizontal arm in rotational adjustable relationshipabout a vertical axis and having a transverse hinge opening; arelatively rigid link having a hinge member adjacent one end extendingtransversely to said link and into said hinge opening; and a tank ballsecured adjacent the other end of said link and opening and closing saidtank ball receiving opening, in which combination said hinge member hasa cylindrical part extending into said hinge opening and has a bodyadjacent said cylindrical part which has an internally threaded openingtransverse to said cylindricalpart threadedly receiving said linkmember. 7

2. In combination: a toilet water tank having a bottom wall, with aflush opening therein; a combined flush and overflow fixture having arelatively large diameter flush pipesealed in said fiush opening with atank ball receiving opening at the upper end of said flush pipe, saidfixture having a relatively long overflow pipe adjacent to anddischarging at its lower end into. said flush pipe, andhaving a verticalextension with an inlet above the normal water level in said tank; asubstantially horizontal arm having means at one e'ndsecuring said armto said combined flushand overflow fixture, said arm extending in agenerally horizontal direction a substantial distance from said combinedflush and overflow fixture; a substantially vertical arm securedadjacent the other end of said horizontal arm in rotational adjustablerelationship about, a vertical axis and having a transverse hingeopening; a relatively rigid link having a hinge member adjacent one endextending transversely to said link and into: said hinge opening; and atank ball secured adjacent the other end of said link and opening andclosing said tank ball'receiving opening, in which COIllbination avertical post is secured to and extends upwardly. from said horizontalarm and has means at its upper end for receiving and adjustably securingsaid vertical arm.

3. In combination: a toilet water tank having a bottom wall with a flushopening therein; a combined flush and overflow fixture having arelatively large diameter flush pipe sealed in said fiush opening with atank ball receiving opening at the upper end of said flush pipe, saidfixture having a relatively long overflow pipe adjacent to anddischarging at its lower end into said flush pipe, and having a verticalextension with an inlet above the normal Water level in said tank; asubstantially horizontal arm having means at one end securing said armto said combined flush and overflow fixture, said arm extending in agenerally horizontal direction a substantial distance from said combinedflush and overflow fixture; a substantially vertical arm securedadjacent the other end of said horizontal arm in rotational adjustablerelationship about a vertical axis and having a transverse hingeopening; a relatively rigid link having a hinge member adjacent one endextending transversely to said link and into said hinge opening; and atank ball secured adjacent the other end of said link and opening andclosing said tank ball receiving opening, in which combination avertical post has an internally threaded opening extending therethrough;a screw engaging said internally threaded opening at its lower end andsecuring said post to said horizontal arm, and said vertical arm havinga cylindrical externally threaded end threadedly engaging the upper endof said internally threaded opening.

4. In combination: a toilet water tank having a bottom wall with a flushopening therein; a combined flush and overflow fixture having arelatively large diameter flush piper sealed in said flush opening witha tank ball receiving opening at the upper end of said flush pipe, saidfixture having a relatively long overflow pipe adjacent to anddischarging at its lower end into said flush pipe, and having a verticalextension with an inlet above the normal water level in said tank; asubstantially hori- Zontal arm having a relatively large openingsecuring said arm to said large diameter flush pipe, said arm extendingin a generally horizontal direction a substantial distance from saidflush pipe and having a vertical opening at its other end; asubstantially vertical arm structure secured adjacent the other end ofsaid horizontal arm ineluding a vertical post which has an internallythreaded opening extending therethrougli, a screw engaging saidinternally threaded opening, passing through said vertical opening atthe other end of said horizontal arm, and a vertical arm engaging theother end of said internally threaded opening and having a transversehinge opening; a relatively rigid link having a hinge member adjacentone end extending transversely to said link into said hinge opening,said vertical arm having a link stopping member extending therefrom; anda tank ball secured adjacent the other end of said link and opening andclosing said tank ball receiving opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,190,160 Mason et al Feb. 13, 1940 2,602,933 Curry July 15, 19522,733,449 Ware Feb. 7, 1956 2,754,522 Earsley July 17, 1956

